Salvation Army awaits completion of new home

John Berry/The Post-StandardConstruction work is going fast and furious at the new Salvation Army site in Oswego. Officials hope the site is ready by April 1.Oswego, NY -- Major Corinne Hayes glances out the window across West Second Street in Oswego to the former site of the Oswego Salvation Army.

“The old place was only 4,000 square feet. People who came for breakfast and lunch had to eat in shifts, we could sit only 40 at a time,” she said. “There was no place for people to sit down. They didn’t feel welcome there.”

All that is changing.

Construction is ongoing at the new site of the Oswego Salvation Army at 73 W. Second St., the former home to the state Labor Department offices. Sometimes, it’s hard to hear yourself think as workers hammer and saw to build a new kitchen, chapel, offices, classrooms, meeting areas — and a larger dining room — in the new 12,000-square-foot space.

If all goes as planned, the site will be done and open by April 1. Hayes said she’s praying the Salvation Army can conduct Easter services April 4 in the new chapel.

The Salvation Army is raising money for the new site, accepting donations for its $1.6 million capital campaign. It is more than halfway to its goal.

A recent anonymous bequest to the Salvation Army bumped the agency’s “I Believe Capital Campaign” past the halfway mark. The campaign so far has brought in more than $900,000.

Hayes and her husband, Capt. Kenneth Hayes, run the Oswego Salvation Army, which offers a soup kitchen with breakfast and lunch, services on Sunday and Sunday school programs, a “Meal with a Message” on Sunday, food pantry, nursing home visitations, various support groups, wellness classes, senior citizen programs, classes in interviewing and resume writing for people wanting to get back to the workforce, life skills programs, Bible study and computers.

The soup kitchen served 2,000 meals in January. The food pantry provides enough provisions for three meals a day for three days to people who visit.

Frances Lanigan, Oswego County director of social services, said the need for services has grown significantly in the community because of the economy and the new Salvation Army site will help meet that need. “Anything that can help with services is a benefit for the community,” Lanigan said. “This is very much a positive.”

The Hayeses have long looked to develop a larger site to serve those with a variety of needs. Mercedes Niess, chair of the Army’s capital campaign, said during the last four years, the number of people the Army serves has nearly doubled.

“With the economy, (demand has) been growing steadily,” Niess said. “And we’ve been seeing different types of people — more families and people who have a job, but who can’t make ends meet.”

One day about three years ago, the Hayeses and some other people involved with the Salvation Army were meeting at the old site on West Third Street. The idea of a new location had been discussed.

“One person happened to look outside and said ‘Hey, that’s for sale,’¤” and pointed across the street to the Labor Department building, Corinne Hayes recalled.

It took some doing, but by the end of 2007, the Salvation Army had purchased the building, Hayes said. The couple couldn’t believe all the space, she said.

“We were walking around with our mouths hanging open,” she said.

Some sewing classes and meetings were held at the new building early in 2008. A new roof was put on in the fall and work on the interior began in January 2010.

Other services are moving in as space allows.

“As we were closing up shop (in the old site) there, we were busy finding places to do business,” Hayes said. St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, about a block away, offered its kitchen so the Army could continue its soup kitchen service. The only day the Army can’t use the church kitchen is Sunday, when St. Mary’s parishioners are there.

Some of the smaller rooms at the new site have been available during construction so support groups could continue. Worship services are being held in other rooms while awaiting the completion new chapel to be finished.

Architect Joseph Maryak designed plans for the new interior and general contractor Paul Castaldo and his crews have been turning those designs into reality.

“We want this to be a place for any activity that people want,” Hayes said. “We’re very excited about it.”